China and Myanmar launched a friendship forest ecological project in Yangon Sunday with representatives of the two countries jointly planting saplings of symbolizing bilateral friendship.
The saplings were grown by Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang and Myanmar Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win.
Hong Liang said at the planting ceremony that the China-Myanmar friendship forest ecological project is aimed at greening Myanmar more and adding more gloss to the country .
The Chinsee side hoped to help Myanmar speed up realization of reforestation and reservation of sufficient forest resources for sustainable development of national ecological security as well as creation of condition of developing of agro-economy, he said.
Noting that China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors with communities of destiny and ecology, Hong stressed that the two countries have responsibilities and obligations to launch long-term cooperation to jointly maintain well the regional ecological environment.
U Ohn Win said in recent years, Myanmar's forest coverage reduced to some extent but the country is making efforts to increase the forest area, planning a reforestation project to be implemented from 2017 to 2026.
He thanked the Chinese side for the assistance and support rendered.
The initial phase of the China-Myanmar friendship forest ecological project was injected with 500 million kyats (390,000 U.S. dollars ) to plant 42,000 saplings covering the area of 48.56 hectares and is targeted to complete in 2017.
